Demon Hunters 3: Tainted (Stand Alone Series) (Demon Hunters.) (13 page)

Amy pulled her hand away. “What the hell have you done to yourself?” She reached out and gingery touched Cassidy’s jagged hair. “And a tattoo? I thought we were going to get butterflies together.” She gestured towards the demon mark that had grown a few centimetres since Cassidy had acquired it. “And why haven’t you answered any of my phone calls, texts, emails and letters?” Amy swore as she wiped at her eyes. “And how dare you make me cry. It makes my eyes all puffy.” She threw her arms around Cassidy.

“You’re choking me.” Cassidy tried to loosen the grip around her neck, not quite sure how to react. She wasn’t the same person Amy had befriended years ago.

“Serves you right.” Amy pulled away to glare at her. “We’re meant to be best friends.” One hand went to her hip as her green eyes narrowed. The other hand became an accusing finger. “You don’t just drop off the face of the earth. I didn’t care if you didn’t want to talk. I just wanted to be there with you. I still do.”

“Sorry.”

“Damn it.” Amy threw her arms around Cassidy again. “Don’t you dare disappear on me again.”

Cassidy smiled as she brushed the wavy brown hair away from her face. “I missed you.”

“So you should. I even considered breaking into your house. Smashing a window or something.”

“I needed time alone.” Cassidy pulled away when Amy’s grip loosened.

“I went to the funeral hoping to see you.”

Cassidy shrugged, her gaze going to a point past Amy’s shoulder. “I couldn’t go.” She hoped Amy wasn’t going to expect her to talk about it, because she really couldn’t.

“Cass-”

“I can’t stay.” She caught Amy’s hands before she could hug her again. “I just wanted to see you. For a few minutes.”

Amy’s gaze roamed her face. “What’s wrong? And you’ve lost too much weight. You need to eat lots of chocolate. Maybe some ice cream too. Or get a tub of chocolate ice cream.”

“Amy, quiet for a minute.” They both fell silent and Cassidy stared at her friend, glad that at least she was still the same. “Give me more time. Okay? I’ll call you when I’m ready to talk.”

“If it takes longer than a couple of weeks I’m going to start sending daily emails again.”

“Daily?”

Amy threw her hands up in the air. “Great. All that effort wasted. You haven’t even seen them.”

Cassidy’s lips slowly curved into a smile. “I will. But not yet. I just wanted to see you for a few minutes.” She hadn’t wanted to face Castigate without having had a chance to say goodbye, just in case. She backed away towards the window. “I’ll call you one day soon.” She hoped. If everything went according to plan. Well, that was if she ever came up with a plan.

“You know you can go out the front door. You don’t have to go all ninja on me just because you’re wearing black. You used to love bright colours. And what’s with the motorbike boots?”

“Question one, no I can’t. Question two, people change and question three, they go with my motorbike.”

Amy’s mouth rounded and for a moment she was quiet. “What sort of bike? And when did you get a license? And why can’t you go out the front door?” She hurried forward, grabbing Cassidy’s hands. “And you can’t go. I have a million things to tell you. And a trillion to ask.”

Cassidy pulled away again, sitting on the window ledge. “Ask me them another day.” She hesitated. “Look out for yourself, okay?”

“You too.”

Cassidy swung out and grabbed the closest branch, grinning at the gasp behind her. She turned her head to see Amy had both hands covering her mouth. A few seconds later and she was at the base of the tree, giving Amy a quick wave before she headed to her motorbike at the front of the house.

As she swung her leg over the motorbike, the front door burst open. Amy stood there, her arms wrapped around herself. Cassidy pulled on her helmet, started the engine and gave her friend another wave before she took off. Guilt hit her as she glanced once more in her friend’s direction before she turned the corner. Amy was still standing out the front of her house, her arms wrapped around her waist. She hadn’t been able to stay any longer. After she dealt with Castigate she’d come back and see Amy. That would have to be enough for now.

It didn’t take long to arrive at the gym. She sat on her motorbike, helmet on the handlebars as she tilted her head back to look at the stars. At least the second visit hadn’t been as bad as the first. She was relieved they were over. Now no matter what happened, she’d said her goodbyes to everyone important in her past. Those who were still living. About to swing her leg over the seat, she stopped when the front door opened. Gabe strode towards her.

“How’d you know I was here?” she asked when he reached her side.

“How do you think, demon girl?” He turned her wrist to show the blood smear. “Any other secret errands to run tonight?”

She shook her head, glad he didn’t seem to want to ask questions about where she’d been.

“Does that mean we’re going home now?”

Cassidy opened her mouth to answer, but a scream rang out through the night, drawing her attention. She searched the area for demons, using all her senses. She frowned. “I can’t find any demons.”

“Sometimes they’re earthly ones.” Gabe started to stride towards the direction the scream had come from.

Cassidy hurried after him. “What are you doing?”

“Checking.”

“But if it isn’t demons-”

“You going to ignore someone who’s in danger?” He shot her a glance.

Cassidy sighed. “I guess not.”

“Try not to use weapons. And don’t kill anybody.”

“What if they’ve got weapons? And I don’t plan on killing anyone. Why would you even say that?”

Gabe grabbed her left arm and held it up. “Because you’re stronger than humans and you’re used to fighting demons. If they’ve got a weapon get it off them and use that. But don’t leave it behind. The last thing you need is the cops running your prints. And no blood either.”

“Because of DNA?”

“Nope. Because of demons.” He grinned at her as they entered a well treed park.

Cassidy looked around, her eyes zeroing in on the drama. Two men held a struggling girl, one of them with his hand across her mouth. Another three men took turns at holding and hitting a boy that looked seventeen, his muscular build no match for their numbers. The girl appeared to be the same age as the boy. “You get the girl.” Cassidy sprinted towards the people.

Gabe ran beside her. “Why do you get the extra one to fight?”

“If you finish with your two before me, I’ll share.” She shot him a quick grin then threw herself into the fight, blocking a punched aimed at the boy. She drove her fist into the man’s stomach and winced when he hit the ground. She had no time to check how badly she’d hurt him. The other two threw themselves at her, dropping the boy to the ground, where he remained curled up. Throwing a fist at one, she spun and blocked a hit from the other, quickly following that with a punch to his jaw. There was a crack when her fist connected and he collapsed in front of her. She spun back to face the other man, only to find him sprawled, unconscious on the ground. She hadn’t thought she’d hit him that hard.

“Shut up, just everyone shut up,” a man called from behind her.

At the same time, Gabe warned, “He’s got a gun.”

Cassidy spun, taking in the scene. One of the men who’d been fighting Gabe was on the ground while the other waved a handgun in the air. Gabe backed away and the girl sobbed on the ground. Cassidy’s eyes were drawn back to Gabe. Relief rushed through her when she saw he was fine.

“Shut up. Do you hear me? Shut up.” The man pointed the gun at the sobbing girl.

Cassidy’s eyes narrowed and she raked her nails over her demon mark, breaking open the cut and smearing blood across her wrist. She fought the urge to throw back her head and laugh at the power that filled her, heightening all her senses. “I think I broke your mate’s jaw. Maybe you should worry about getting him to a hospital instead of waving that gun around.” She stalked towards him, hands at her side.

The gun swung towards Cassidy. “Back off. Not another step or I’ll kill you.”

“I think we need Remedy,” Gabe called. The gun swung towards him.

“No we don’t I’ve got this all under control. But a shuriken would be appreciated.” Cassidy continued her steady pace forward.

“Enough!” The man swung the gun wildly between Cassidy, Gabe and the girl.

The moment the gunman’s eyes weren’t on her, Cassidy pointed at Gabe, then the gunman and then tapped her right wrist. She mimed throwing a blade. Gabe shook his head. She didn’t even have time to argue in any way before the gunman was looking at her again. “Drop the gun and walk away. Don’t do anything you’ll regret.” She could tell him all about regrets.

“Please. Please.” The girl’s sobs grew louder.

“I said shut up!” The man turned the gun on the girl again.

The world slowed down for Cassidy. She saw him pull the trigger. She didn’t have time to blink before she was carrying the girl from the path of the bullet. She felt wood splinter beside her as she dropped the girl on the ground under another tree, spinning to face the man. She was in time to see a small blade strike his wrist and the gun fall to the ground. His uninjured hand rose, his mouth opened and he screamed, pointing at Cassidy, eyes wide. In the background she heard the sound of sirens as she continued towards the man.

“We’ve got to get out of here.” Gabe ran towards her.

Cassidy pulled the blade from the man who backed away from her, begging her not to hurt him. She grinned at him and leaned into his face. “Boo.”

He yelped, stumbled and landed on the ground, staring up at her. “Please, please. Stay away. Whatever you are, just stay away from me. Please. The fire. Take it away from me.” He slowly scooted back across the ground.

Gabe grabbed Cassidy’s right wrist and tugged her away. “Come on. Do you really want to talk to the cops?”

The world started to catch up to normal pace and she turned to Gabe with a shake of her head. She ran with him to her motorbike, pulling on her helmet as she hopped on. The moment she felt Gabe seated behind her she took off, heading in the opposite direction to the sound of sirens. After a few minutes she changed directions and headed for home.

When they arrived home energy still sang through Cassidy’s body, making her restless. She turned to Gabe the moment they stepped inside and held out the blade to him. “I thought I asked for a shuriken.”

“I told you no weapons.”

“He had a gun. Besides, it’s a stupid rule.”

“No, it’s not. We don’t use weapons against humans in case someone is recording the fight. Everyone records things these days. The last thing we need is to end up on Youtube.”

Cassidy grinned. “And how would they explain a Youtube vid of a hunter fighting a demon? Or even empty air if the demon’s hidden.”

“Cameras are better at picking up such things. And it doesn’t matter because people would think they’d recorded actors.”

Cassidy shrugged. “He had a gun. I wasn’t about to stand around and wait to be shot.”

“You’re lucky I had time to throw anything. What were you even thinking? Were you trying to get yourself killed? You’re not a demon.” His hands went to her shoulders, shaking her lightly as his grip tightened. “Damn it. He could have killed you.”

“He didn’t.” She dropped the blade Gabe ignored and lifted her hands to push his away. “I have never felt so much energy. He had no chance of hitting me.”

Gabe raised her left arm. “That’s because it wasn’t just your blood feeding the demon tonight. Judging by all those splatters on your arm I’d say you broke a nose as well as a jaw.”

Cassidy took a step back. “That’s a stranger’s blood on my arm?” At Gabe’s nod she paled and ran to the bathroom. She heard Gabe enter the room after she’d scrubbed most of the blood off. “That’s disgusting.” She turned on Gabe with a glare when he laughed.

“Glad to see you’re not as demonic as you looked earlier.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Gabe stepped close. “Your eyes were all flame. They’re not much better right now. And look at your mark.”

Cassidy didn’t have to look at it to feel how it twisted and turned. “Fire.” She repeated the gunman’s word.

“Yeah.” Gabe nodded as he brushed the side of her face near her left eye. “Fire.”

Cassidy closed her eyes, trying to contain the power. It was impossible. She opened her eyes to stare at Gabe. “I need to hunt.”

“Need?”

She nodded. “I feel like someone’s hooked me up to the electricity grid.”

Gabe’s lips slowly curved into a smile. “I can think of a better way to wear off all that energy.” The smile became a grin. “But hunting’s probably the safest option.”

Cassidy laughed as she shook her head. “You coming with me?”

Gabe wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, his lips a breath away. “Always.” He pulled back slightly. “Now let’s get out of here before I get myself killed.” He brushed a finger across her lips before he turned away, reaching out to take her hand and tug her along with him.

Once they were on the motorbike, Cassidy searched for demons. She could sense Castigate off to the north. Obviously not a direction they should be going in. She quickly searched in a different direction. They were too minor. Then she found one.

Grinning, she headed towards him. It took them nearly half an hour to track him down. She reached for her daggers as soon as she was off the motorbike.

Gabe put a hand on her arm. “He’s not doing anything yet.”

She shook Gabe’s hand off her. “But he will be. Why else is he following that couple along the footpath?”

“Guarding them?”

“Yeah, right.”

“When he does something wrong then we can step in.”

“It’s a stupid rule.” The energy raced through her, looking for an outlet. And the one she’d chosen was continuing to walk away from her.

“Without rules you might as well be a demon.”

She stopped walking to face him, growling between gritted teeth. “I’m not a demon.”

Gabe raised his left hand. “Aren’t you? Then why do you feel exactly like one right now?”

He was wrong. “I need to hunt. And you’re stopping me.” There was already too much energy racing through her, but the only thing she could think of to catch the other demon’s attention was to increase it. Running her fingernails across her wrist, she grinned. “Guess I’ll have to do something about it.”

Swearing, he reached out to grab her right hand, but he was too slow. “One day you’ll call up more energy than your body can handle.” He spun to face the demon that came towards them.

“They’re mine. I saw them first. Go find your own humans.”

Gabe took out two of his blades. “We’re here to protect them.”

The demon laughed. “A hunter and a demon together?” He turned his gaze on Cassidy. “Leave behind that pretty shell you wear and come hunt with me. If this hunter has bound you I’ll get rid of him for you.” His grin showed pointed teeth. “I haven’t had the pleasure of killing a hunter in years.”

“Is that enough proof for you?” Cassidy asked Gabe. Her eyes remained on the demon, her daggers ready.

“You admit to killing a hunter?” Gabe asked.

The demon chuckled. “What are you going to do about it, boy?”

“I don’t know what he’s going to do about it, but I plan to do plenty.” Grinning, Cassidy leapt at the demon, slashing at him with her daggers.

He spun away, but not before she’d managed to cut him. Roaring, he attacked her with a sword he materialised. She darted past his blade, coming up behind him to strike at his back before she whirled away from him.

“I offered to set you free.” The demon blocked the blades Gabe threw at him, moving to put Cassidy between him and Gabe.

“I’m not a demon.” She struck out at him, trying to get out of Gabe’s way.

The demon didn’t cooperate, continuing to keep her between him and Gabe. “Then what are you?”

She hadn’t liked the word the first time she’d heard it. But now it meant power. It also meant not cowering before a demon who could take her life or the life of those she loved. Her lips curved into a smile as she renewed her attacks, the power singing through her. “Tainted.” She could feel other demons in the distance, picking up on the power and heading towards them.

“You were a hunter?” The demon continued to block her attacks, still keeping her between him and Gabe.

“No. I was, and still am, human.” She could feel her humanity beneath the demon power and she didn’t plan to lose it.

“With eyes like that? Not likely.”

“Stop playing with him, demon girl. Can’t you feel the others?” Gabe demanded, trying to move to his right.

Yeah, she could feel them. And she looked forward to it. A glance in the direction the two humans had been walking showed they were long gone. Dropping her daggers, she laughed as the power surged through her. She vaulted over the demon, a hand on his shoulder to push herself over. Grabbing his arm, she twisted it up behind his back, struggling to hold him. “Turn him into a pincushion.”

Gabe launched blade after blade at the struggling demon until he burst into flames, howling as he returned to hell. As soon as the demon was gone, Gabe began to gather up his blades. “They’re coming in fast. Are we staying or going?”

Picking up her daggers, she searched the area, power still singing through her body. There was nothing strong coming for them. Only the minor. But there should be enough of them to make it challenging. “We stay.”

Gabe laughed, dropping an arm around her shoulders as they faced the direction the first wave of demons would come from. “I should have known. Especially with how much power is still pouring off you. Remember you’re meant to be using it up, not adding to it.”

“Are you tired? Having trouble keeping up?”

“Not at all.” His lips met hers for a moment, then he stared down at her. “Hunting is my second favourite pastime.”

She grinned at him, not bothering to ask what his favourite was. With that expression, she didn’t need to. “Then why are we waiting for them?” Shrugging his arm off her shoulders, she raced forward, meeting up with the first demon halfway down the street.

By the time the next few arrived, they’d dispatched the first one. The next two were starved for power. She could feel their hunger for hers. She wasn’t about to give it up. It had been too hard won.

Her daggers streaked through the night, a blur of motion as she attacked and blocked, trying to keep out of Gabe’s way as he threw his blades. At one stage of the night, he ran out and Cassidy drew the demons away from him so he had a chance to collect his weapons.

As dawn arrived, Cassidy sank her dagger into the demon she had pinned to the ground, a weary smile forming as it disappeared in a mist that hung on the air for a few seconds. She looked up at Gabe who held out a hand to her. Taking it, she rose to her feet.

“Ready to go home?”

She nodded. “Now I am.” Her smile widened. “How about you?”

Chuckling, he slung his arm around her shoulders. “More than, demon girl.” He walked beside her towards her motorbike. “You want to be passenger this time?”

“Not likely.” She swung her leg over the motorbike, pulling on her helmet. Searching the area she found that even Castigate was gone. And the few minor demons that were able to roam during daylight hours were nowhere near them. Once Gabe was behind her, she headed for home. It had been a good night’s work. Hopefully tonight would be just as easy. But she doubted it. She couldn’t stop thinking about how much power Castigate had. She wasn’t about to let that keep her from going after him. She owed him for what he’d done to her family.